The pair had a rocky and often abusive relationship; despite some initial excitement over the baby, the father, named Brian Stewart, returned from Operation Desert Storm and reportedly began questioning the child's paternity.

The Independent notes that when the baby was 11 months old, Stewart, who tested blood for a living, knowingly injected him with a sample tainted by the HIV virus.

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His now-grown son is quoted as saying, "He was hoping I would die off so he wouldn't have to pay child support."

Jackson's health began to decline soon after, and he was diagnosed with "full-blown AIDS."

Stewart was eventually convicted of first-degree assault and sentenced to life in prison.

Jackson, who is now 25, is thriving with good health and spends time advocating for those with HIV and other serious diseases.